Loose-leaf binder



24, 1929. R. a BOHRER 1,729,563

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed June 1o, 192e 2 shams-sheen 2 Patented Sept. Z4, 1929 Unirse stares PATENT OFFCE RAYIYIOND BOHRER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSGNOR TO THE TODD COM- PANY, INC., 0F ROCHESTER, NEVI YORK, A OORIRGEATION 0F NEW YORK LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Application led `Tune 10,

This invention relates to loose-leaf binders and more particularly to the fiat opening` variety adapted, for example, for check books, ledgers and folios where it isdesirable to have the pages open in a flat condition to afford an even surface for writing, one object of the invention being to provide an improved binder of this character having a simple and ellicient form of construction adapted to be quickly and conveniently operated and to hold the paper leaves securely and also so that they may be readily removed or replaced. Another object is the provision of such a binder having simple, practical and inexpensive leaf-retaining means normally securely locked but capable of being quickly adjusted to release the leaves with a minimum of time and effort. A further object is the provision of a binder having` leaf-retaining means of the above character detachably associated with a cover portion in a simple, convenient and inexpensive form of construction.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claim at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a loose-leaf binder embodying the present invention, showing the front cover portion swung open;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same showing the front cover portion in vclosed position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation 'of the sheet-retaining means detached;

Figure 4l is a side elevation of the binder showing the parts in position for inserting or removing the leaves;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the leaf retaining arch member detached;

Figure 6 is a similar view of plate means for holding the leaf retaining arms, showing the parts thereof partially formed; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the leaf retaining arm means and hinged plate therefor fixed to a backing member detached from the cover.

1928. Serial No. 115,041.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The invention is disclosed herein, by way of illustration, in an embodiment comprising cover means having a back portion 10 and a front portion 11 hinged thereto, as by means of a flexible hinge strip 12, and the cover may include also a binding section 141 secured to hinge strip 12 and to the front portion proper as by means of a second flexible strip 15, as well understood in the art. The cover back is preferably formed with a pocket as by means of a lining 1G secured thereto along the top, bottom and right hand end of the back, leaving' the left-hand edge free to form the pocket opening.

rfhe sheet or leaf retaining means proper is detachably inserted in the cover pocket so that it is removable with the leaves as a unit, as may be desirable, for example, after the leaf-retaining means has been filled and it is desired to separate the cover for use with a new retaining means. To this end the retaining` means preferably comprises a backing member 17 in the form of a sheet of relatively stilf cardboard, for example, to which the devices proper for detachably engaging the leaves are secured.

The leaf-engaging means proper comprises, preferably, one or more sheet metal parts or plates 18, as best shown in Figures G and 7. These plates have pointer lugs 19 struck therefrom and adapted to be forced through the backing member 17 and clinched on the underside of the latter to securely fix the plate thereto, although, of course, the plates may be secured to the backing member in other ways. Plate 1S is formed along its rear edge with a hinge loop 2O rolled i-nvwardly from the margin as shown. rlhe opposite margin of the plate is raised or offsetupwardly as at 21 and the opposite edges 22 of the plate portion 21 afford locking edges for the leaf-retaining arms hereafter described. Figure 6 shows the plate 18 with the hinge means or loop 20 partially formed and with the securing lugs 19 bent at rightangles to the plate ready for insertion through the backing member 17.

The leaf-retaining means or posts for each plate are preferably formed of a single length of wire of suitable gauge and material to afford a relatively stilil but resilient member which is shaped and formed as best shown in Figure 5. Thus, the wire has a straight central hinge portion 23 adapted to be engaged under the plate hinge loop 2O when the latter is bent down into final position. At the ends of the pintle portion 23 the wire is bent upwardly at right-angles as at 24, thence forwardly in an arc as at 25 and thence downwardly as at 26 parallel with the portions 241, to afford arms or arches of substantial radius for retaining the desired quantity of leaves. The arch portions 26 have their eXtreme ends beveled as at 27 and are formed adjacent thereto with shoulders or notches 28 to adapt these portions to spring over the edges 22 of plate 18 as the arch is closed with the notches 28 securely locked with the edges 22 as shown in Figure 7.

It is apparent from the above construction that the backing member 17 may be quickly associated with a cover by inserting it in the cover pocket, as shown in Figure 1, for which purpose the edges of the backing member may be beveled as at 29. Tvi7ith the parts so arranged, the coopei'ating pair of arches 2G of each leaf-retaining device may be quickly and conveniently spread or sprung apart by engaging the hand with one arch as a rest or fulcrum and pressing the linger against the other arch to release the arches from the hinged plate 18. The arch portions may then be pivotally swung back to the position shown in Figure 4L and one or more leaves placed thereon and inserted in position in the cover, after which the arches are swung pivotally forward and downward. In the latter position a slight downward pressure on the arches, by reason of their beveled ends, causes them to spring over the edges 22 of the locking plate portion 21, in which position the arches are securely held with the leaves bound in the cover. It has been found that the construction described for the leaf-retaining arches is particularly advantageous in that the relatively stiff wire required may be readily sprung and released in the manner described with but a slight pressure applied by one hand between the pair of arches which,

however, are normally securely held in locked position by the engagement of their notched portions with the edges of the plate 18 from which no inadvertent force on the leaves or binder can release them.

Any desired number of leaf arches or posts may be employed, two being shown in the present instance. rlhe arch portions the1nselves, as well as the hinge and locking plates 18 are simple, effective and inexpensive in construction and readily assembled with each other and with the backing member 17 and the detachable association of the latter with the cover adds to the convenience and utility of the binder in that when the latter has been lilled, the file of leaves may be removed as a unit with their retaining means, for liling or other purposes, and a new retaining means provided for the cover.

I claim as my invention:

A retaining element for holding loose leaf sheets in a binder comprising a plate adapted to have one side thereof secured to a backing member, one edge of said plate being bent to form a tubular bearing portion substantially tangent to said plate on the side opposite to that to which the backing member is applied, the opposite edge of said plate being bent to form a portion extending in the same direction as the body of said plate and oll'set from the plane of said body on the same side thereof kas said tubular portion, and a Wire having an intermediate portion journalled in the tubular portion of said plate and a loop formed at each end of said intermediate portion, each loop lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said plate and on the same side of said plate as said tubular portion and odset portion, the end lof each loop having a notch for engagement with an edge of the offset portion of said plate.

RAYMOND E. BOHRER.

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